Having to discuss a relationship should never be a prerequisite of interviews, but most famous figures still endure probing questions about their love lives regardless - especially if they are rumoured to be in a same-sex partnership.

But some male and female stars have openly addressed their sexuality and their same-sex partnerships, and in doing so given lesbian and gay visibility and acceptance a massive boost.

The actress Ellen Page, who came out in 2014, described her reasons for coming out in an interview this week as a moral responsibility to speak up from such a prominent platform.

These people have also used their fame to discuss sexuality and promote the fight against discrimination:

The "Wrecking Ball" singer was reportedly dating the Victoria’s Secret model Stella Maxwell over summer, a union that has sent tabloids into a frenzy. Cyrus has yet to openly confirm whether she is dating Maxwell, but was forthright about her fluid sexuality.

"I am literally open to every single thing that is consenting and doesn't involve an animal and everyone is of age” she told PaperMagazine in June.

"Everything that's legal, I'm down with. Yo, I'm down with any adult - anyone over the age of 18 who is down to love me."

Stewart was apparently outed by her mother, who told The Mirror she was in a relationship with a woman. Her response to questions about her sexuality from Nylon after this report surfaced was simple: “Google me, I’m not hiding.”

The Twilight actress added her own voice to the growing number of people defining their sexuality as fluid, by refusing to expressly identify as gay, straight or bisexual.

Page very publicly came out to an LGBT audience in Las Vegas in 2014 and has been a vocal proponent of gay and lesbian rights ever since.

The actress told Time magazine she felt obliged to use her position and platform to further gay rights by coming out.

“I remember watching the Pussy Riot documentary and thinking, ‘Oh my God. The courage of these people’, she said. “It’s just like, “Dude, come out - just say you’re gay. You’re privileged, you have a family. You have no excuse.” It kind of got to the point of - I felt guilty, to be honest with you, and I believe I absolutely should have. It’s become kind of a moral imperative to speak up."

The British supermodel spoke openly about her relationship with her girlfriend, the singer St Vincent, when she appeared on the cover of US Vogue. And when her bisexuality was questioned by the author of her profile, she roundly shut down speculation by telling The New York Times: “My sexuality is not a phase. I am who I am.”

Rose burst onto screens in Orange is the New Black, and hasn't really left the minds of viewers since. The 28-year-old came out when she was 12 and discussed her own battles with self-acceptance and acceptance from those around her in interviews after the third season premiered.

Rose is now engaged to Phoebe Dahl, the granddaughter of author Roald Dahl and the cousin of model Sophie Dahl.

Inspirational quotes about LGBT rights

Inspirational quotes about LGBT rights

1/27
Caitlyn Jenner

2/27
Kanye West

"Look, I can be married to the most beautiful woman in the world, and I am. I can have the most beautiful little daughter in the world, and I have that. But I'm nothing if I can't be me. If I can't be true to myself, they don't mean anything," the rapper said about Jenner.

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3/27
Stephen Fry

"Homosexuals are not interested in making other people homosexuals. Homophobes are interested in making other people homophobic."

Rex

4/27
Hillary Clinton

"Gay rights are human rights."

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5/27
Anderson Cooper - Journalist and TV host

“The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.”

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6/27
Laverne Cox - Actress

'"We are not what other people say we are. We are who we know ourselves to be, and we are what we love."

7/27
PM David Cameron

"I am proud that we have made same-sex marriage happen. I am delighted that the love two people have for each other — and the commitment they want to make — can now be recognised as equal."

AFP/Getty Images

8/27
Kellie Maloney

"We don't have a choice. People think we wake up one morning, put a dress on and be a woman. I knew about it when I was very young but I was brought up in a male world and had responsibilities, I was frightened and I wanted to beat it. I didn't want to lose my friends. In the end I was so depressed and so desperate, I tried to commit suicide about three times."

Getty

9/27
Ellen DeGeneres - comedian and TV host

"To me beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin. It's about knowing and accepting who you are."

10/27
President Barack Obama

"Just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that's not what America's about. Usually, our constitutions expand liberties, they don't contract them."

AFP/Getty Images

11/27
Zac Efron - Actor

"To me, being gay was just another way that you can be."

Getty Images

12/27
Lance Bass - former NSYNC member

"The thing is, I'm not ashamed - that's the one thing I want to say. I don't think it's wrong, I;m not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy."

Larry Busacca/Getty Images

13/27
Ed Miliband - former Labour leader

"Whether you're gay or straight, you should be able to signify your commitment, your love, with the term marriage."

Reuters

14/27
Kate Bornstein - Author

"Gender is not sane. It's not sane to call a rainbow black and white."

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15/27
Adam Levine - Maroon 5's singer

"Maybe we should make straight marriage illegal. It doesn't seem to have a very high success rate."

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16/27
Tom Daley - Olympic diver

"I felt so alone and trapped in who I was... for people to be so supportive about it has been amazing."

17/27
Kurt Cobain - Former musician

"I'm not gay, although I wish I were just to piss off the homophobes."

Getty Images

18/27
Jay-Z - Rapper

"You choose to love whoever you love. It's no different than discriminating against blacks."

PA

19/27
Brittney Griner - Basketball player

"I am a strong, black, lesbian woman. Every single time I say it, I feel so much better."

Rex Features

20/27
Daniel Radcliffe - Actor

"You don't have to be gay to be a supporter, you just have to be human."

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21/27
Elle Page - Actress

"I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission... I suffered for years because I was scared to be out... I'm gay."

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22/27
Michael Sam - NFL player

"I want to own my truth... No one else should tell my story but me."

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23/27
Pink - singer

"I think the best day will be when we no longer talk about being gay or straight... It's not a gay wedding, it's just a wedding. It's not a gay marriage, it's just a marriage."

24/27
Jason Collins - former NFL player

"When I acknowledged my sexuality, I felt whole for the first time."

GETTY IMAGES

25/27
Ricky Martin - singer

"Acceptance has to come from within and this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed."

26/27
Frank Ocean - Musician

"I believe that marriage isn't between a man and a woman; but between love and love."

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27/27
Elton John

"So I am deeply saddened and shocked over the current legislation that is now in place against the LGBT community here in Russia. In my opinion, it is inhumane and it is isolating."

Keegan Hirst played in a match just hours after news of his sexuality broke

He became the first rugby league player to come out as gay earlier this month, in an announcement welcomed by his fans and fellow sportsmen.

He gave a poignant description of how significant coming out as gay was for him after discussing his sexuality, telling The Mirror: “I had a wife and kids. I’ve been a builder, doorman, worked in factories – I play rugby. I tick every macho box. How could I be gay? I’m from Batley for goodness sake. No one is gay in Batley.

"The only time I felt free of the torment was when I stepped on the rugby pitch. Now I feel free.”